>>>>>>Cathode Ray Tube monitors use a ray gun similar to a television to beam a path of electrons on the screen. One of the greatest strengths of the CRT is its flexibility with resolution. A good CRT will handle any resolution you throw at it, from 640x480 to 1600x1200 and higher.
The most common complaint about CRT's is their weight and size. A 21" CRT will rob you of valuable desk space and can weigh upwards of 50 pounds! All around, CRT's reproduce color, brightness, and picture clarity better than anything else, which is why they are used as a benchmark for all other monitor types. If CRT's are your game, there are only two tubes you want powering your beast. A Sony Trinitron or NEC/Mitsubishi Diamondtron. These tubes use aperture-grille technology - nothing can beat them.
>>>>>>>Liquid Crystal Display technology is the comparative newcomer to the monitor arena, but the new guy packs a powerful punch! Unlike those clunky CRT monitors, LCD displays usually weigh in under 10 pounds and are only 3 inches deep - that will certainly give your back a break when lugging equipment to a LAN party.
Weight and size are the LCD's big advantage; now here's the tricky parts: view angle, native resolution, and response time. "What's those" you may be asking? Well, look at a CRT from the side and you can still easily view what appears on the display. This is true 180-degree precision. LCD's have less than perfect view angles, usually around 169 degrees at best. So if for some reason you're sitting at an odd angle to the monitor, color will be affected and the picture may literally start to disappear.
LCD's have a hardwired number of pixels within its matrix, which means it has a fixed (native) resolution. This is the big thing to look for when purchasing a LCD. Some have huge 1600x1200 resolutions, while other skimp along at 1024x768. While changing the resolution on a LCD is possible, it must compensate using mathematical algorithms. Bottom line is that running a LCD at any resolution other than the native setting will lead to a drop in performance and quality. The latest top-tier models offer improved scaling algorithms, and hopefully within a few years the difference in picture quality will be gone. Still, you will still be stuck with those black bars around the edges unless running native.
>>>>>CRT vs LCD Comparison
Size and Weight: LCD's get the big win. Their small footprint makes them extremely adaptable to just about any surface. Many even have special mounts so you can hang them on walls.
Picture Quality: In a few years this category could very well be a tie. Right now, LCD's still lag somewhat due to less than true colors, brightness, and lack of flexibility with resolutions.
Real Estate: While there are 24" CRT's, none are recommended. The best models are 21". Also remember when choosing a CRT, your screen size is roughly the whole size of the next smaller monitor. This works backwards for LCD's, another bonus when choosing them. A 19" LCD is actually closer to 20", which explains their pricing.
>>>>>Final Thoughts
For hard core gamers, choosing the right monitor is even more important. If you're a Larry the LAN Lizard type, LCD is the way to go. Lugging a CRT through acres worth of tables trying to find an empty spot is never fun. Don't be afraid to get one with the uber-high resolution of 1600x1200. In the gaming world, higher rez = higher killz. This is possibly an urban legend, but one which I will buy.
Overall, CRT is still the king of the hill in my opinion, but LCD's are so close in every category - even ahead in a few - that it is ultimately a choice only you can make.
HERE IS THE ANSWER Grrrh ASKED IN MY ASUS Monitor Post.
The most common complaint about CRT's is their weight and size. A 21" CRT will rob you of valuable desk space and can weigh upwards of 50 pounds! All around, CRT's reproduce color, brightness, and picture clarity better than anything else, which is why they are used as a benchmark for all other monitor types. If CRT's are your game, there are only two tubes you want powering your beast. A Sony Trinitron or NEC/Mitsubishi Diamondtron. These tubes use aperture-grille technology - nothing can beat them.
>>>>>>>Liquid Crystal Display technology is the comparative newcomer to the monitor arena, but the new guy packs a powerful punch! Unlike those clunky CRT monitors, LCD displays usually weigh in under 10 pounds and are only 3 inches deep - that will certainly give your back a break when lugging equipment to a LAN party.
Weight and size are the LCD's big advantage; now here's the tricky parts: view angle, native resolution, and response time. "What's those" you may be asking? Well, look at a CRT from the side and you can still easily view what appears on the display. This is true 180-degree precision. LCD's have less than perfect view angles, usually around 169 degrees at best. So if for some reason you're sitting at an odd angle to the monitor, color will be affected and the picture may literally start to disappear.
LCD's have a hardwired number of pixels within its matrix, which means it has a fixed (native) resolution. This is the big thing to look for when purchasing a LCD. Some have huge 1600x1200 resolutions, while other skimp along at 1024x768. While changing the resolution on a LCD is possible, it must compensate using mathematical algorithms. Bottom line is that running a LCD at any resolution other than the native setting will lead to a drop in performance and quality. The latest top-tier models offer improved scaling algorithms, and hopefully within a few years the difference in picture quality will be gone. Still, you will still be stuck with those black bars around the edges unless running native.
>>>>>CRT vs LCD Comparison
Size and Weight: LCD's get the big win. Their small footprint makes them extremely adaptable to just about any surface. Many even have special mounts so you can hang them on walls.
Picture Quality: In a few years this category could very well be a tie. Right now, LCD's still lag somewhat due to less than true colors, brightness, and lack of flexibility with resolutions.
Real Estate: While there are 24" CRT's, none are recommended. The best models are 21". Also remember when choosing a CRT, your screen size is roughly the whole size of the next smaller monitor. This works backwards for LCD's, another bonus when choosing them. A 19" LCD is actually closer to 20", which explains their pricing.
>>>>>Final Thoughts
For hard core gamers, choosing the right monitor is even more important. If you're a Larry the LAN Lizard type, LCD is the way to go. Lugging a CRT through acres worth of tables trying to find an empty spot is never fun. Don't be afraid to get one with the uber-high resolution of 1600x1200. In the gaming world, higher rez = higher killz. This is possibly an urban legend, but one which I will buy.
Overall, CRT is still the king of the hill in my opinion, but LCD's are so close in every category - even ahead in a few - that it is ultimately a choice only you can make.
HERE IS THE ANSWER Grrrh ASKED IN MY ASUS Monitor Post.